Standing With Our Asian and Asian-American Community

The following statement was issued by Dean Laura Rosenbury on March 19, 2021. 

Dear UF Law Community,

The horrific murders in Atlanta earlier this week are yet another example of the rise of anti-Asian violence during the Covid-19 global pandemic.  Members of Asian American Pacific Islander communities have been subject to physical and verbal assault at alarming rates across the United States, including here in Florida.

I condemn this racism, bigotry, and violence.  Anti-Asian hate and xenophobic rhetoric have no place in a society committed to equality and the rule of law, and they certainly have no place here at UF Law.

Our nation is a community of many races, ethnicities, cultures, and backgrounds.  Our law school community, like the entire nation, is enriched by the contributions of our diverse student body, alumni, faculty, and staff, including our Asian colleagues.  For those of us who are not directly affected by these acts of violence, it is our collective responsibility to work together to stop acts of hatred whenever and wherever we can.

Our campus is a place where everyone should feel welcome, and we will continue to strive for a more inclusive environment.  Assistant Dean for Inclusion Michelle Smith will provide updates on our current racial justice initiatives in the coming days.  In the meantime, members of our Asian Pacific American Law Student Association encourage any UF Law community member to reach out to apalsaatuflaw@gmail.com.  I thank APALSA’s leadership in this matter, in solidarity with our Black Law Students Association and Latin Law Students Association, and their ongoing work with our admissions team to advance student diversity at UF Law.

As I wrote in January, the world needs lawyers and law students now more than ever.  We must affirm and bolster the rule of law by increasing access to justice, condemning hate and racism, and using law to promote equality and a more inclusive society.

LAR

Laura Ann Rosenbury
Dean and Levin, Mabie & Levin Professor of Law